McDonald’s employee out of a job after buying food for firefighters

A McDonald's employee who spend the past eight years working at the fast food chain was fired after she bought food for firefighters and then clashed with her boss over the issue.

Heather Levia, a 23-year-old single mom with twins, told WIVB-TV
in western New York that she was working her standard morning
shift at McDonald’s when a group of firefighters came in. The
Allegany Fire Department had been in the news recently for
putting out a house fire in sub-zero temperatures, and Levia said
she wanted to show her gratitude by paying for the group's 25
breakfast sandwiches out of her own pocket.

“Just because I appreciate everything they do,” she
said.

Another group of firefighters came in later that day, ordering
$70 worth of food. Levia said she texted her boss to see if the
store could provide it for free. When she was denied, the young
mom then called McDonald’s corporate office only to be given the
same response.

Evidently unsatisfied with that answer, Levia raised enough money
among her co-workers to pay for the food themselves. The
firefighters then called Levia’s boss to say that they never
expect free food, but it was wrong of McDonald’s to make Levia
feel as if she needed to pay for the food herself.

Whether the company told the firefighters that Levia had
volunteered to pay for the food herself is unknown.

Regardless, she found herself out of a job the next day after
being told she was fired for cursing at a superior.

“You opened a whole bee’s nest,” Levia said her boss
told her before denying that she broke any rules. “I did say
this is ‘freaking’ ridiculous but it was not implied to
anybody.”

Allegany Fire Media Officer Gordon Scott told WIVB that the
firefighters were surprised by the gesture.

“It was a shock. We certainly regret the fact she lost her
job,” he said. “We can’t speak on corporate policy
because we don’t know the background of it. It was a sad affair
because a gentleman lost a home. And it’s even worse because we
now know that this girl apparently lost her job because of
it."

Tom Meyers, owner of the Olean, New York McDonald’s, refused to
give specific details on the incident but denied that management
was behind any wrongdoing.

“The Meyers Organization has always valued the employees who
serve our customers every day. We likewise continue to be an
ardent supporter of our police and fire departments, along with
other first responders. They are always welcome in our
restaurants, and we will continue to support them in the
future,” he said.

“We are aware that certain allegations have been made
concerning the reasons for Heather Levia’s termination. Out of
respect for Ms. Levia and her privacy, it would not be
appropriate to comment in detail on the reasons she is no longer
employed by our organization. Still, it should be pointed out
that the allegations are absolutely not true. We would never
penalize an employee for showing appropriate gratitude for the
work of our firefighters.”

Levia, for her part, told the news station that the attention
surrounding her story has already led to a number of job offers.

“It’s just wrong,” she said of her dismissal. “I
wish the communities would change and help each other out. I wish
that things didn’t have to be the way they are. And if losing my
job is going to speak out to the community, then that’s what it’s
going to do.”